Neutral Perspective: Good and Bad of G.M.O.s’?

By Shireen • March 10, 2013 • Recent GMO News gmoinside.org
Originally published by Rosebud
by GL Woolsey
September 13, 2012
Source article

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GMO foods are such an embedded part of our food system these days, but it’s not difficult to think back to a time when food was simpler and healthier. How did we get to the point that genetically modified organisms infiltrate so much of what we eat? In a recent issue of Rosebud Magazine, GMO expert GL Woolsey took a look at the history of GMOs. We present that for you here now….

GOOD

Many of the most influential regulatory agencies and organizations that study the safety of the food supply, including the U.S. Food & Drug Administration, the American Medical Association, the World Health Organization, Health Canada, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the National Academy of Sciences, have found genetically modified food ingredients are safe and there are no negative health effects associated with their use.GMO crops benefit environment, farmers, developing countries
May 9, 2014 cornandsoybeandigest.com“…A recent review of biotech, or GM (GMO), crops shows that they offer major environmental benefits and allow farmers to grow more acres with fewer resources. In the 17 years of adoption, genetically modified crops delivered more environmentally friendly farming practices while providing clear improvements to farmer productivity, says Graham Brookes, co-author of the PG Economics report.

Per Pinstrup-Andersen discusses the advantages of developing countries growing crops developed through genetic engineering to secure their food supply and alleviate hunger & malnutrition.”

DEBATE

Pros & Cons of GMO Foods
Last Updated: Jan 13, 2014 | By Joshua Duvauchelle“…Although GMO foods may have several benefits to your health and the general well-being of the farming industry, it may also present several potential drawbacks.

Cons: Allergic Reactions
GMO foods can present significant allergy risks to people, according to Brown University. Genetic modification often mixes or adds proteins that weren’t indigenous to the original plant or animal, causing new allergic reactions in the human body. In some cases, proteins from an organism that you’re allergic to may be added to an organism that you weren’t originally allergic to, prompting the same allergic reaction experienced from the first organism.
Pros: Insect Resistance

Some GMO foods have been modified to make them more resistant to insect pests. The University of California in San Diego reports that a toxic bacterium can be added to crops to make them insect repellent, yet safe for human use. This can reduce the amount of pesticide chemicals used on the plants, thus potentially reducing exposure to pesticides….

The Pros and Cons Of GM Foods

Genetically Modified Food March 13, 2014 c-span.org” Consumer advocate Jeffrey Smith and biotechnology entrepreneur Gregory Stock debated the safety of genetically modified food (GMOs). Each gave an illustrated presentation, and then they offered rebuttals. Mr Smith in his argument talked about the health risks of GMOs and said government and industry had covered up the risks with “rigged research.” Mr. Stock disputed everything Mr. Smith said and said he lacked a scientific background. Following their debate, they responded to audience members’ questions. Topics included the ethics of GMOs, the role of the government, GMO labeling, and the potential to solve world hunger.

“The Truth About GMOs” was a presentation of the Vail Symposium at the Timber Hearth Grill in The Club at Cordillera. “Consumer Reports looks at heated debate over GMO foods
ByJason KashdanCBS NewsOctober 7, 2014, 3:05 PM cbsnews.com“…There’s a great deal of controversy regarding the dangers of consuming food with GMOs.

While tests on animals have given insight into the debate, she said, there have not been enough tests on humans.

“Just like if a food is homogenized, made from concentrate or irradiated … we think it follows logic that they should be labeled as well,” Rangan said.

Three common food labels were discussed in the study: “natural,” “USDA Organic” and “Non-GMO Project Verified.”..”

In the 1980s, a contaminated brand of a food supplement called L-tryptophan killed about 100 Americans and caused sickness and disability in another 5,000-10,000 people. The source of contaminants was almost certainly the genetic engineering process used in its production.[41] The disease took years to find and was almost overlooked. It was only identified because the symptoms were unique, acute, and fast-acting. If all three characteristics were not in place, the deadly GM supplement might never have been identified or removed.

If GM foods on the market are causing common diseases or if their effects appear only after long-term exposure, we may not be able to identify the source of the problem for decades, if at all. There is no monitoring of GMO-related illnesses and no long-term animal studies. Heavily invested biotech corporations are gambling with the health of our nation for their profit.

What’s your personal conclusion? Good or Bad? Feel free to comment and share your feedback, suggestions, etc… down below as “we” can all learn from one another on this increasingly debatable topic.